CHICAGO, IL | WIth the NPE2009 trade show having been accompanied by the largest plastics educational program ever held, according to SPI organizers, that included a design competition and many other new features, exhibitors have reported a high level of strength that contrasts with the current economic malaise and they feel promises a better business climate to come. Plastics professionals from nearly 19,000 companies from 101 countries came to NPE2009 during the June 22--26 to discover innovations, make connections, plan purchasing, and—often enough, according to some exhibitors—close deals on the spot. While the preliminary registration was about 30% below the corresponding number for NPE2006, the number of companies represented by registrants was down only 17%. “Over and over during NPE week, exhibitors and attendees have rated NPE2009 a success as a showplace for innovation and a marketplace for doing business,” said SPI president Bill Carteaux. “With very difficult economic times and travel reductions caused by concerns about the H1N1 pandemic, it came as no surprise that attendee delegations were smaller than in 2006, but those company representatives that did come to NPE2009 were typically significant players with real purchasing power.” The conferences co-located with the NPE trade show included more than 1,000 presentations and attracted 3,213 attendee registrations.

A daily counter of attendees reflected more than 43,000 as of the morning of June 26 with over 18,600 plus unique companies. A general feeling of satisfaction, contentment and perhaps a little relief came over the NPE2009 show floor by Thursday afternoon. Exhibitors were pleased with the show attendance and repeatedly cited the high quality of the buyers and decision-makers at the show despite lower volume. In short, it appeared attendees attended the show on a mission: to seriously research and buy products and services.